A large volume of distinguished sources exist which attribute a 4th-century emergence for this federation:[3][4][5][6][7] Others believe it was first formed around the 7th century.[8][9] However the list of Kings of Airgíalla notes the year 513 for the death of Colga mac loite mac Cruinn.

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In the beginning of the 4th century, three warlike princes, called the Three Collas, sons of Eochy Doimhlein, son of Cairbre Lifeachar, legendary High King of Ireland, of the race of Érimón, made a conquest of a great part of Ulster, which they wrested from the old possessors, princes of the race of Ir, called the Clanna Rory, or Rudericians.

The origins of Airgialla stem from the Battle of Achadh Leithdheirg fought c331 in "Fearnmhagh" - old Farney, a disputed battle site between: Dartree, Monaghan,[10] Farney, Monaghan[11] and Aghaderg Parish, County Down.[12]

In this battle the forces of the Three Collas defeated the forces of Fergus Foga, king of Ulster, of the Ulaid who was slain; and the victors burned to the ground Emain Macha or Emania, (near the present city of Armagh,) the famous palace of the Ulaid kings, which had stood for six centuries, and had been long celebrated by the Irish bards. The sovereignty of Ulster thus passed from the race of Ir to the race of Heremon.

A site claimed for this battle is - Achadh Dearg - ‘red field’[13] the territory near carn "Achy-Leth-Derg", Loughbrickland, parish of Aghaderg, barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half, county Down, where there still remains a huge Cairn of loose stones.

The other claimed battle site is located in the territory of Fearnmagh "the Alder Plain" or old Farney, Monaghan.[14]

The name of Airgialla was thought to derive from the circumstance of the Collas having stipulated with the king of Ireland, for themselves and their posterity, that if any chiefs of the clan Colla should be at any time demanded as hostages, and if shackled, their fetters should be of gold: thus, from the Irish, ór, gold, and giall, a hostage, came the name orgialla.

The name 'Airgialla' may be cognate with the Scottish Argyll, archaically Argyle (Earra-Ghàidheal in modern Gaelic), the name for a region of western Scotland corresponding with the ancient Dál Riata kingdom. The early thirteenth century author of De Situ Albanie explains that "the name Arregathel means margin of the Scots or Irish, because all Scots and Irish are generally called Gattheli [=Gaels], from their ancient warleader known as Gaithelglas." However, it is often understood to derive from Earra-Ghàidheal, "East Gaels". The term Airgíalla was believed to be derived from the Irish orgialla meaning "hostage of gold", but recent research suggests that it is derived from *Airgíallne, meaning "additional clientship."[citation needed]

They conquered a large part of Ulster from the princes of the race of Ir (aka Clanna Rory; also Rudericians). The original legend was composed in the second quarter of the 8th century (725–750) to seal an alliance with the Uí Néill.[attribution needed]

The victors burned Eamhain Mhacha (English Navan Fort), near Armagh City, capital of the Ulaid which had stood for six centuries, and had been long celebrated by the Irish bards. The sovereignty of Ulster thus passed from the race of Ir to the race of Heremon.

The earliest reference to the Airgíalla occurs in the Annals of Tigernach under the year 677, where the death of Dunchad mac Ultan, "Rí Oigriall", is noted. However, it is suspected of being a retrospective interpolation. On the other hand, the entry in the Annals of Ulster under the year 697 which lists Mael Fothataig mac Mael Dub as "Rex na nAirgialla" may indeed be genuine. Both Mael Fothatag and his son, Eochu Lemnae (died 704) is listed as one of the guarantors of the "Cáin Adomnáin" in 697. Thus it is believed that the Airgíalla were probably in existence as an entity by then, or certainly by the opening years of the 8th century.

The most powerful among them was the Ui Moccu Uais; one of the lesser Airgíalla was its offshoot, the Ui Meic Cairthinn.

Note: In its history the area originally referred to as Mughdorna was eventually sub-divided into the smaller kingdoms of Ui Meith, Dartraige (now Dartry, Co. Monaghan), Fir Fearnmhaigh (now Farney, Co. Monaghan), Conailli (now part of co. Louth), Fir Ros (now the area about Carrickmacross), and Mugdorna [now Cremorne, Co. Monaghan]. The early chiefs of Mugdorna are stated to be descendants of one of the Three Collas, i.e. Colla Menn.

It has since been shown that the Airgíalla were not a kindred but a federation, whose members were of diverse origins, resulting in the kingship of the kingdom passing from one unrelated dynasty to another.